From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Knox, 2 May 1792
To Henry Knox
May. 2. 1792.
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Genl. Knox and incloses him a letter from a Mr. Thorn solliciting a military appointment. He knows no more of the writer than his letter expresses, and can not conjecture from that, of what state he is.
He incloses also two letters from a Mr. Bowyer and Mr. Matthews (brother of the General) solliciting an appointment for a Mr. Gibson. The writers are good men and true, and are in a part of the country famous for the best of riflemen. Th:J. therefore commits the letters to General Knox to make such use of as circumstances may render expedient.
PrC (DLC).
TJ recorded in SJL under 1 May 1792 receipt of a letter (missing) from Stephen THORN (d. 1813), written from Granville, N.Y., on 6 Apr. 1792. For more on Thorn’s subsequent activity, especially with regard to the French Revolution and a possible conquest of Quebec, see T. S. Webster, “A New Yorker in the Era of the French Revolution: Stephen Thorn, Conspirator for a Canadian Revolution,” liii (1969), 251–72. Letters from William bowyer of 18 Apr. 1792 and Sampson Matthews of 19 Apr. 1792, both from Staunton and recorded in SJL as received 30 Apr., are also missing.